Osceola to attempt to break snowmobile parade record

OSCEOLA  The population of Osceola, just over 200 people, will grow in epic proportions Saturday as snowmobilers descend on the 87-square-mile town.

Osceola Snowmobile Association aims to break the world record for largest parade of snowmobiles at noon. The current record stands at 820 snowmobiles, set in February, 2004 in Roseau, Minn.

It will be great, said organizer Douglas Nichols as he was out grooming the trail for the big day. Ive done TV interviews, phone interviews; so if people dont show up, its not that we didnt try.

The event was even featured in the Wall Street Journal.

Registration will kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Pines Restaurant and Campground, 1132 Comins Road. The parade will course through a 2.8-mile fenced area. Riders will proceed single-file along the course. The full ride will likely take an hour. Afterward, participants may join in a hot dog roast.

An estimated $1,500 to $2,000 worth of items will be given away. Raffles will run every 10 minutes starting at 10 a.m. Such items include helmets, gift certificates for area restaurants and snow-related shops, manicures and pedicures.

You name it, Ive scrounged it, joked Mr. Nichols.

There will also be giveaways for children that day, including McDonalds gift cards, first-aid kits and dental hygiene products.

Mr. Nichols arranged the whole event in just over a month as a fundraiser for OSA, which starts each season $13,000 in the red. He hopes to see the event raise at least $10,000. Registration is $10 per snowmobile.

Support your local snowmobile clubs. New York state funding does not cover the whole thing, said Mr. Nichols. This was a way for us to have a fundraiser, break a world record and have a whole pile of fun at that.

Riders are asked to ride their snowmobiles to the campgrounds as parking space is limited.

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